An overly optimistic view of the Atlanta Hawks during the 2018-19 season.
The first half of the Atlanta Hawks season in 2018-19 has been something of a roller coaster.
The team looked like a true cellar-dweller to start the year, as the Hawks began the season with a heinous 6-23 record through mid-December. Since that time, the Hawks have gone 13-16 – pushing their record to a far more respectable (but still not great) record of 19-39.
Though 20 games under .500, the teams below them (Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls) are working hard to obtain the best chances to land transformational prospect Zion Williamson out of Duke University.
Despite all the losing (even to the lowly Knicks before the All-Star break), the Atlanta Hawks are a fun team to watch and if you haven’t hopped on this high-upside team’s bandwagon, now might be a good time.
Read on to explore three reasons it’s a great time to be an Atlanta Hawks fan.
Young Core
The most important part of any NBA team is its players, and the Atlanta Hawks have some of the most likable and talented young players across the NBA.
Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter headline the group – as those three twentysomethings look to be a terrific core going forward. Beyond that, “young veterans” like Taurean Prince and DeAndre’ Bembry provide familiar faces that have been with the team for the past three seasons.
With a few roster spots open, Omari Spellman resurgent and the contract of undrafted rookie Jaylen Adams now a guaranteed contract, expect to see plenty more young faces over the final 20+ games this season.
Statement Wins
Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this year’s Atlanta Hawks team is the fact that whenever the team wins a game they technically shouldn’t have won (such as when they upset the Los Angeles Lakers last week), it becomes a referendum for the team that was beaten by Atlanta.
The Hawks thoroughly outplayed the Lakers last week, and Trae Young ran circles around the modern GOAT, LeBron James. With that loss, LA’s sports scene went into a tizzy about the state of the Lake Show, how safe is Luke Walton, how good is LeBron actually and many more soul-searching questions.
All because of a talented young Hawks team that’s 20 games under .500. As a Hawks fan, isn’t it nice to know your team winning a meaningless game causes intense panic for one of the winningest franchises in NBA history?
Lastly, the team is being built the right way thanks to Atlanta Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk.
A canny operator who was partly responsible for the current Golden State Warriors dynasty, Schlenk has drafted incredibly well and not forced any roster moves (unless you count the Luka Doncic/Trae trade).
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Schlenk admitted that the only reason that deal got done was because a lottery pick was offered in return – which makes sense.
Though Doncic has been spectacular, Ice Trae has had his fair share of highlights and the team looks to be in good hands with the flashy passing and splashy shooting of Young.
It might not be the Atlanta Hawks “time” just yet but stay tuned Hawks fans. This team is only going to get better as the years go on, and the bandwagon is filling up quickly.